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Smoking & How to Quit

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Smoking & How to Quit Home > Tools > Share Your Story

Have a helpful hint or motivating thought to share? Tell us your story. Encourage others. Share strategies for quitting smoking. This area is for you.

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I turned 27 two days ago, I've been smoking since I was 18. I've tried to quit many time, I think this might be the time it sticks though. I've been smoke free for 20 days now, and the lack of nicotine is really starting to hit me now. I'm short with everyone, and I'm worried I will relapse. But I have hope.

Anonymous from Alabama

I am a former college soccer player and I have been in great physical shape for many, many years. Now that I am done with soccer/school I have found myself becoming addicted to smoking. STRANGE???? Well I didn't always smoke I just picked up the habit when I was going out with my NON-soccer friends and socially lighting up. But now 4 years later I am fully addicted and trying to quit. I am starting to train for a triathlon to help in kicking the habit and becoming competitive again, but it is still so hard to avoid the cravings around friends who smoke.

S from Georgia

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Vidal from Michigan

I'm an ex-smoker. I enjoyed them very much for thirty years. I'm forty seven and I was feeling like I twice my age. I've been smoke free for three months. I feel younger than my age and I have more stamina. You just take one day at a time, even when you just want one puff, don't! Grab a tooth pick, gum, or something you can do hand-to-mouth. Don't give up!

Anonymous from Arizona

I wuit 5 weeks ago today and not a single puff of smoke passed my lips since. I smoked since I was 8 and about a pack a day since I was 13; now 41. I got sick for the first time in December last year and since I have made three trips to the doctors, my first visit in years. I am never normally that ill. I went back 4 weeks later very sick again. And I was back 6 weeks later. That day I quit cold turkey. This scared the heck out of me; I thought maybe I had lung cancer. I am counting everyday now as a blessing. I sleep better, my teeth are whiter, and food tastes better. It all true. I am gaining weight a little, but I will keep taking walks everyday. I see a brighter future, living until I am over 80 and in good health. Best wishes to you all.

Duckna from California

This is so hard, but my boyfriend and I are committed this time, we don't want our future kids to have to go through all this. I started when I was 14 and now I'm 20, I really wish I just had never started.

Lindsay from Indiana

I am about to come up on my 6th anniversary of smoking. My friends and family have been encouraging me to quit but I just couldn't seem to find the willpower. I have played the game, quit and start again. I love this website! It has given me the encouragement I needed to never have another "smoking anniversary". I have had my last cigarette.

DeAnn from Missouri

I turned 40 in August and decided it was time to give up my "pacifier" and quit smoking (after 26 years) on October 22nd, one week before my son's 21st birthday. He has always hated that I smoked because he wants me around. It's been hard but around 12 weeks of not smoking it was almost like an epiphany finally grabbed hold of me (as my emotions were off the wall for 3 months) and I realized I did the right thing and wasn't obsessed with it anymore and will never pick up a cigarette again. I didn't gain any weight (I have always been thin w/ a good metabolism) because I knew a candy bar was not going to give me the same pleasure I got from a cigarette. I just want to let you woman out there know it CAN be done and it does get better (even though my husband hasn't stuck with it and it breaks my heart)! There's another great website called whyquit.com you should look into. Keep up the great work!

Laurie from Massachusetts

I've been smoking since I was 13, and now I'm 28. This is my 4th quit. I quit in 2004 for almost 2 years, and started again. I'm 39 days into my quit and still think about smoking. I have improved so much physically since I quit for even the first time. My first quit I was so worried that I'd gain weight that I joined curves and started working out. I lost almost 25 inches, and I lost 25 pounds. I have maintained that loss even with quitting and starting, quitting and starting. My most recent quit I shaved off 2 minutes off my running time for a mile. I am very proud of myself for sticking to this. If I can quit with a husband that still smokes in the house, anyone can!

Kelly from Minnesota

Well, here I am. My quit date is set for Mar 31. After smoking for 33 years, coming down with bronchitis every winter and still fighting a sinus infection now for 2 months -- I decided it's time. I'm having trouble breathing, tired of coughing and hate the money I'm wasting. The past 15 years, my doctor has been pleading with me to stop. It recently dawned on me--I viewed smoking as my reward; it no longer is. I am still young and I want to enjoy the rest of my life. My Mom quit 20 years ago; when I was younger she told me she would never quit, but she did. I am using a calendar to mark off the days and a jar for the money I would spend every day on cigarettes. I'm looking forward to watching both add up. I feel very strongly that I will be successful. I've read many of your comments and all of you are inspiring me to succeed! Thank you!

Patti from Ohio

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Content last updated May 17, 2008.

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